An isolated expression enhancer active in a plant, portion of a plant or plant cell, the expression enhancer is provided. The isolated expression enhancer may be selected from the group consisting of nbMT78 (SEQ ID NO:1); nbATL75 (SEQ ID NO:2); nbDJ46 (SEQ ID NO:3); nbCHP79 (SEQ ID NO:4); nbEN42 (SEQ ID NO:5); atHSP69 (SEQ ID NO:6); atGRP62 (SEQ ID NO:7); atPK65 (SEQ ID NO:8); atRP46 (SEQ ID NO:9); nb30S72 (SEQ ID NO:10); nbGT61 (SEQ ID NO:11); nbPV55 (SEQ ID NO:12); nbPPI43 (SEQ ID NO:13); nbPM64 (SEQ ID NO:14); and nbH2A86 (SEQ ID NO:15). Methods for using the isolated expression enhancer are also provided.

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for GII.3/GII.4 chimeric norovirus capsid proteins comprising one or more amino acid substitutions. Additionally provided are synthetic backbone molecules, norovirus P particles, synthetic nanoparticles, scaffold immunogens, nucleic acids, mimitopes, polypeptides, virus replicon particles (VRPs), virus like particles (VLPs), vectors, cells, and compositions comprising the same.

Genes for proteins which spontaneously form dimers and/or oligomers can be recombinantly linked together, which upon expression in E. coli produces stable dimeric fusion proteins that spontaneously self-assemble into enormous, polyvalent complexes having increased immunogenicity and functionality. Linear, network and agglomerate complexes with enormous sizes and polyvalences are constructed using glutathione S-transferase, Norovirus P domains (NoV P.sup. and NoV.sup.+), the protruding (P) domain of hepatitis E virus (HEV P), the astrovirus P domain (AstV), a monomeric peptide epitope (M2e of influenza virus), and/or a protein antigen (VP8* of rotavirus) fused in different combinations. The resulting complexes can contain hundreds to thousands NoV P-protein, HEV, AstV, M2e and/or VP8* copies and exhibit higher immunogenicity than the individual proteins alone. The large size and multivalent nature of the complexes are candidates as a bivalent or multivalent vaccines against Norovirus and other pathogens, and for generation of antibodies for diagnosis and research purposes.

Methods of purifying virus-like particles (VLPs) that are substantially free of process contaminants and infectious agents. The methods incorporate, for example, low-pH treatment during harvest and/or inactivation by a solvent and/or detergent during VLP capture.

The present invention aims to provide a VLP that can have multivalent antigenicity and has two capsid proteins present in equal proportions. A virus-like particle, including an assembly of dimers of a first capsid protein and a second capsid protein, wherein the first capsid protein and the second capsid protein are connected to each other by a linker.

The present invention describes immunogenic compositions containing immunogenic polypeptides of Sapovirus, including immunogenic compositions containing antigens other than Sapovirus antigens, including antigens that may be used in immunization against pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases. Methods of eliciting an immune response with the immunogenic compositions as disclosed and methods of treating a Sapovirus infection are also described.

Disclosed herein are polynucleotides encoding recombinant rotaviruses (RVs), methods of using the same, and systems for generating the recombinant RVs.

The present invention describes immunogenic compositions containing immunogenic polypeptides of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), including immunogenic compositions containing antigens other than RHDV antigens, including antigens that may be used in immunization against pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases. Methods of eliciting an immune response with the immunogenic compositions as disclosed and methods of treating a RHDV infection are also described.

Disclosed herein are vaccine compositions, in particular, polyvalent icosahedral compositions for antigen presentation. The disclosed compositions may contain an S particle made up of recombinant fusion proteins. The recombinant fusion proteins may include a norovirus (NoV) S domain protein, a linker protein domain operatively connected to the norovirus S domain protein, and an antigen protein domain operatively connected to said linker.